How Much Do Software Test Engineers Make?
Having a clear understanding of earnings potential is important, especially if you are researching career paths or considering changing jobs. If you're one of those people, and you're curious what kind of salary software test engineers make, you've come to the right place.
Using data from Lightcast,™ the Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled rich information about salary for software test engineers and related jobs, including details about average compensation, salary trends and job growth. We've also gathered advertised salaries from actual job postings to provide insight into what employers of software test engineers are offering as compensation.
Keep reading to learn more about how much software test engineers can expect to make in the United States.
At a Glance: Salary & Jobs for Software Test Engineers
According to data from 2023, there were about 203,686 positions for software test engineers in the United States. In terms of salary, the national median salary for software test engineers was reported to be $101,795. Additionally, when examining job demand, employers across the country posted 45,053 job postings related to positions for software test engineers.
How Much Money Do Software Test Engineers Make?
Median salary is just one data point. To build a better understanding of how much money software test engineers and related positions can expect to make in the United States, it can be helpful to look at the full range of compensation for those jobs.
Let's look more deeply at data that was reported to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for detail into the lowest and highest salary earnings for software test engineers.
Annual Salary for Software Test Engineers
According to the BLS, the lowest earners for software test engineers and related professions earned about $58,739 per year in 2023. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, the highest earners made about $164,528 annually.
As mentioned previously, the median salary for software test engineers in the United States in 2023 was $101,795.
Annual Salary Range For Software Test Engineers In 2023
Hourly Salary for Software Test Engineers
The BLS also breaks down compensation for software test engineers by hourly salary, and the median average hourly pay for software test engineers in 2023 was $49. Lowest hourly earners took home $28 while the highest reported hourly salaries for software test engineers was $79.
Hourly Salary Range For Software Test Engineers In 2023
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Software Test Engineers
Develop the advanced technical skills needed to turn complex programming specifications into well-designed computer programs.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Advertised Compensation for Software Test Engineers
Data from the BLS is one way to dig into compensation for software test engineers, but another way to build a more real-time understanding of salary is to look at actual job postings and see what compensation organizations are currently providing to fill open positions for software test engineers.
Keep in mind that salary data is not included in every job posting, so the information compiled here is reflective of the data available through Lightcast.™
Annual Salary from Job Postings for Software Test Engineers
Advertised Annual Salary
During a review of 61,142 job postings related to software test engineers, advertised salary was included in 20,338 of them, which was 33%. Based on those postings, the median advertised salary for software test engineers was $104,320 per year.
Hourly Salary from Job Postings for Software Test Engineers
Advertised Hourly Salary
A similar analysis of job postings provides insight into advertised hourly salary for software test engineers. Based on 45% of postings with advertised compensation, the median hourly salary for open positions for software test engineers in the United States is about $50.
Salary Trend for Software Test Engineers
If you're thinking about pursuing a career in the field, you may want to understand how compensation has changed over time for software test engineers. The chart below provides a snapshot of advertised salaries over the past three years.
Based on compensation data that was included in job postings for software test engineers dating back to September 2020, advertised salaries for software test engineers have increased 18%.
Advertised Wage Trend For Software Test Engineers
What's the Job Growth for Software Test Engineers?
Another data point that someone thinking about a career path should consider is whether or not jobs are expected to see growth in the future. The chart below looks at projected employment for software test engineers over the next 10 years.
According to the data obtained through Lightcast,™ there were 203,709 jobs for software test engineers in the United States in 2023. By 2033, it is expected that about 49,068 jobs will be added. That's a 24.1% increase over the next 10-year period.
Employment Projections For Software Test Engineers
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about software test engineers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for software test engineers.
What do software test engineers do?
Software Test Engineers: How do you become one?
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